Unit 1: Airplanes and Aerodynamics

The three primary flight controls of an airplane are

the ailerons, the elevator (stabilator), rudder

Movement of any primary flight control surfaces

changes the airflow and pressure distribution over and around the airfoil. These changes affect the lift and drag produced and allow a pilot to control the aircraft about its three axes of rotation.

Aileron (What is it, what airplane movement, what axes of rotation, what type of stability?)

Primary control surface, roll, longitudinal, lateral

Elevator/Stabilator (What is it, what airplane movement, what axes of rotation, what type of stability?)

Primary control surface, pitch, lateral, longitudinal

Rudder (What is it, what airplane movement, what axes of rotation, what type of stability?)

Primary control surface, yaw, Vertical, Directional

Ailerons (Location)

Attached to each wing that move in the opposite direction from one another to control roll about the longitudinal axis

Elevator (Location)

Located on the fixed horizontal stabilizer on the tail of the airplane and used to change the pitch attitude of the airplane about the lateral axis